Beverage Products And Method Of Making Same

ABSTRACT

Beverage products and methods of making stable breakfast beverage products are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of making a stable breakfast beverage product comprises the steps of: (a) mixing a food thickening agent at high speeds with a potable liquid to form a mixture; (b) cooking the mixture; (c) cooling the mixture; and (d) packaging the mixture with enhancers, the mixture and the enhancers being separate from one another. In another embodiment, a beverage product comprises a package and a food thickening agent. The package has first and second compartments separated from one another, and the food thickening agent is mixed at high speeds with a potable liquid to form a mixture. The mixture is cooked and housed in the first compartment. An enhancer is housed in the second compartment, and a straw is configured to provide access to the first compartment.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/871,596, filed Dec. 22, 2006 and titled “Beverage Product”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Many studies have shown breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. However, many people consume an inadequate breakfast or skip breakfast entirely—often due to a lack of time or a misunderstanding of the meal's importance. Various “portable” breakfasts can now be found in the marketplace, including “pop tarts”, “breakfast bars”, diet milkshakes, and others.

SUMMARY

Beverage products and methods of making stable breakfast beverage products are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of making a stable breakfast beverage product comprises the steps of: (a) mixing a food thickening agent at high speeds with a potable liquid to form a mixture; (b) cooking the mixture; (c) cooling the mixture; and (d) packaging the mixture with enhancers, the mixture and the enhancers being separate from one another.

In one embodiment, a beverage product comprises a package and a food thickening agent. The package has first and second compartments separated from one another, and the food thickening agent is mixed at high speeds with a potable liquid to form a mixture. The mixture is cooked and housed in the first compartment. An enhancer is housed in the second compartment, and a straw is configured to provide access to the first compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a beverage product according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A drink that is sold in a sealed microwavable cup or bottle; has a long shelf life; can be drank cold, warm, or hot; can be sipped from a large straw; and that is filling, nutritious, heart warming, and healthy is needed and described herein, along with a method of composition.

While various cups 100 may be used, one embodiment is shown in the attached FIG. 1. The cup 100 is microwavable and is coupled to a cap 110. The cap 110 is raised relative to the cup 100, defining an area 115 above a top side 102 of the cup 100 and underneath the cap 110. As shown in the drawing, the cap 110 may have a domed configuration. A removable partition (also referred to herein as a “lid”) 120 may be present at the top side 102 of the cup 100 to separate contents of the cup 100 from the area 115. Various enhancers 130 (e.g., nuts, dry fruit, tapioca balls, nutmeg, cinnamon, butter, salt, crackers, sugar, honey, syrup, artificial sweetener, dry vegetables, other spices, herbs, etc.—alone or in combination) may be housed in the area 115. The enhancers 130 may be freely positioned in the area 115 or may be contained in a sealed package 132 that is positioned in the area 115.

Various beverages may be housed in the cup 100. Exemplary beverages are formed by blending a food thickening agent (e.g., regular flour, whole grain flour, corn starch, rice flour, etc.—alone or in combination) at high speeds with a potable liquid (e.g., water, milk, juice, etc.—alone or in combination) to create a mixture. The mixture is then cooked. The amount of cooking and the proportions of the ingredients may be adjusted so that when the mixture cools from cooking it has the consistency of a thick beverage. The cooked mixture may then be bottled or placed in the cups 100 and sealed. In some embodiments, the mixture may maintain a neutral flavor; in other embodiments, flavoring agents may be added to the mixture before cooking. Egg products (i.e., egg whites and/or yolks) may be added to the liquid before cooking in some embodiments.

To consume the beverage from the cup 100, a user may remove the cap 110, the enhancers 130, and the lid 120. The enhancers 130 may be inserted into the beverage and mixed, such as by a straw 140 having a spoon 142 on one end. The lid 120 and/or the cap 110 may be repositioned on the cup 100, and the beverage and the enhancers 130 may be consumed (such as through the straw 140). The beverage and the cup 100 may be heated (i.e., in a microwave oven) either before or after the addition of the enhancers 130 if the user so desires. The straw 140 may provide a large passageway to accommodate the enhancers 130.

As described herein, the beverage can be customized and consumed by the end user with minimal effort. Further, the beverage may be healthy. For example, it may contain protein, healthy fats from nuts, vitamins and fiber from fruits, and minerals from spices. To present the healthy qualities, health data and trivia may be printed on the cup 100 or the cap 110. Nevertheless, the beverage does not have to be healthy, as such enhancers 130 as candied nuts, candy, etc. may be used.

In addition, the beverage can be safely consumed by lactose intolerant people if the potable liquid excludes lactose products (e.g., milk), and by diabetic people if the enhancer includes artificial sweetener. It is more convenient than cereal, and its nutritional value may be similar to healthy cereal if made from the flour of cereal and/or starch.

Those skilled in the art appreciate that variations from the specified embodiments disclosed above are contemplated herein and that the described embodiments are not limiting. The description should not be restricted to the above embodiments, but should be measured by the following claims. 

1. A method of making a stable breakfast beverage product, the method comprising the steps of: mixing a food thickening agent at high speeds with a potable liquid to form a mixture; cooking the mixture; cooling the mixture; and packaging the mixture with enhancers, the mixture and the enhancers being separate from one another.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing a cup, a lid, and a cap, and wherein: the mixture is packaged in the cup and sealed by the lid; and the enhancers are packaged in the cap and separated from the mixture by the lid.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cooled mixture has a consistency of a thick beverage.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the cup is microwavable.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cap has a domed configuration.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancers includes at least one of nuts, dry fruit, tapioca balls, nutmeg, cinnamon, butter, salt, crackers, sugar, honey, syrup, artificial sweetener, dry vegetables, other spices, or herbs.
 7. A beverage product, comprising: a package having first and second compartments separated from one another; a food thickening agent mixed at high speeds with a potable liquid to form a mixture, the mixture being cooked and housed in the first compartment; and an enhancer housed in the second compartment.
 8. The beverage product of claim 7, further comprising a straw configured to provide access to the mixture in the first compartment.
 9. The beverage product of claim 8, wherein: the package comprises a cup, a lid, and a cap; the cup defines the first compartment; the cap defines the second compartment; and the lid separates the cup and the cap.
 10. The beverage product of claim 9, wherein the cup is microwave-safe.
 11. The beverage product of claim 10, wherein the enhancer includes at least one of nuts, dry fruit, tapioca balls, nutmeg, cinnamon, butter, salt, crackers, sugar, honey, syrup, artificial sweetener, dry vegetables, other spices, or herbs.
 12. The beverage product of claim 8, wherein the mixture further comprises egg.
 13. The beverage product of claim 8, wherein the potable liquid excludes lactose products.
 14. The beverage product of claim 8, wherein the food thickening agent includes at least one of regular flour, whole grain flour, corn starch, or rice flour.
 15. The beverage product of claim 9, wherein the package includes health data and trivia.
 16. The beverage product of claim 8, wherein the enhancer is directly positioned in the second area.
 17. The beverage product of claim 8, wherein the enhancer is contained in a sealed package and the sealed package is positioned in the second area.
 18. The beverage product of claim 8, wherein the straw is sized to transport the enhancer therethrough. 